YearToAvoid

2011 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 109 engine complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, 25% of its 432 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 78,471. There are 4 reported fires and no engine-related recalls tied to this data.

Engine complaints
109
25% of 432
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
78,471 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden stalling at low speed, often while turning or crossing traffic, with all dashboard lights on but the engine dead.
  • Some describe the engine catching fire, including one case where a parked car burned in a home garage and damaged the ceiling and walls.
  • Several report a grinding or whining noise from the 1.8-liter engine during the first cold start of the day.
  • One owner reported an antifreeze odor through the vents followed by smoke from the engine while driving.
  • A few describe rough idle and unexpected acceleration loss that caused near-collisions in traffic.

When 2011 Hyundai Elantra engine complaints were filed

First complaint May 20, 2011, latest Feb 10, 2026.

2011 Hyundai Elantra engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter92011 Q22013 Q12014 Q42016 Q22018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12023 Q2
109 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q2 to 2026 Q1; peak 2019 Q2 (9).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Elantra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201040 (11%)
  2. 2011109 (25%)
  3. 2012161 (25%)
  4. 2013271 (21%)
  5. 2014180 (47%)
  6. 2015105 (40%)
  7. 2016123 (42%)
  8. 2017303 (40%)
  9. 2018150 (53%)
  10. 2019136 (54%)
  11. 2020117 (47%)
  12. 202125 (19%)
  13. 202213 (13%)
  14. 202322 (22%)
  15. 202413 (24%)
  16. 20254 (18%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2011 Hyundai Elantra have?
NHTSA lists 109 engine complaints for the 2011 Elantra, which is 25% of all 432 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an engine recall for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
No related recalls are listed in this data for the 2011 Elantra's engine complaints.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2011 Elantra is 78,471 miles.
Have there been fires or crashes linked to engine problems?
NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint set shows 4 fires, 3 crashes, and 1 injury reported for the 2011 Elantra.
What kind of engine issues do owners describe?
Owners describe stalling at low speed, a cold-start grinding noise, and in some cases smoke or fire from the engine compartment.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.